Illinois one of five 'disliked' states

Charles J. JohnsonTribune Newspapers

While we'll admit we don't have the best record when it comes to governors or baseball victories, we didn't think it had gotten so bad we'd been relegated to the "unpopular table" in the Union lunchroom. According to a Public Policy Polling survey, Illinois ranks as one of five states with an "unfavorable" view by most Americans, joining Mississippi, Utah, New Jersey and the least favorably viewed, California.

When polled, 29 percent of Americans held an unfavorable view of Illinois with only 19 percent reporting a favorable impression of the Land of Lincoln. The top three spots go to Hawaii (54 percent), Tennessee (48 percent) and Colorado (44 percent).

Illinois is also one of the least liked states for Republicans who named California, Illinois and Massachusetts as their most despised and Texas and Alaska as their favorites. Illinois fell more towards the middle of the pack with Democratic voters.

As a state whose largest city boasts about 40 million visitors per year, we respectfully suggest the pollsters recheck their math. It seems tourists, at least, are voting with their feet (and their dollars) when it comes to Illinois.